Mechanism for compacting tire carcasses on tire building machines



Dec. 6, 1949 R. l. KUFFLER MECHANISM FOR COMPACTING TIRE CARGASSES ON TIRE BUILDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

Roland I. Kuffler BY M v 2% L37 ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1949 R. KUFFLER' I 2,490,445

. MECHANISM FOR COMPACTING TIRE CARCASSES 0N TIRE BUILDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v H INVNOR.

Ralarwl I. Kuff'ler ATTORNE 4 F19.E BY

Dec. 6, 1949 R. l. KUFFLER 2,490,445

MECHANISM FOR COMPACTING TIRE CARCASSES 0N TIRE BUILDING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1947 INVENTOR. I. Kuf'f'ler ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1949 1, KUFFLER 2,490,445

MECHANISM FOR COMPACTING TIRE CARGASSES 0N TIRE BUILDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

W '9. Roi/anal I. Kuf'iler F1 7 BY 89 ,90 ATTORNE Dec. 6, 1949 R. I. KUFFLER 2, 0, MECHANISM FOR COMPACTING TIRE CARCASSES on TIRE BUILDING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RECTIFIER r FORWARD REVERSE V3 fi C26 INVENTOR. n Rolafid I. Kuff'ler Fi B BY ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -MECHANI-SM FOB'CGMPACTING TIRE CAR- CASSES ON .TIREBUILDING MACHINES Roland I. Kufiier, Detroit, Mich, assignor tc The General 'I ireand Rubber Company,- Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 9, 1947, Serial"No."76'Z;762

.19 :Claims. 1

This invention relates to tire building machines of the drum type and more particularly to a mechanism for-compactin the the carcass on'the drum during the tire building operation.

The invention has *for its object to provide means for rapidly compacting "the superposed layers of rubber and fabric-forming the tire carcass throughout the extent thereof in such manner-as to expel any air trapped between the-layers of "rubber and fabric.

A further object is to provide compacting rollers that are 'slidable axially on shafts oppositely inclined to the 'drumaxis so that they automatically travel from the center toward'the ends of the drum inhelical paths when pressed against a tire carcass "on' the rotating drum.

It is also an object of the invention-to provide means for automatically returning said compacting rollers to "a central position after each tire compacting operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means controlled 1 by movements of the compacting-rollers for startingand stopping the drum and for retractin the rollers.

An additional'object of the invention is toprovide in combination with the axially movable compacting rollers, a central tread engaging roller which can be operated-independently of the axially movable'rollersto apply the tread stock to the tire carcass on'the drum.

With the above and'other-objectsin view, the invention-may be said to comprise the carcass compacting mechanism as illustratedin the accompanying drawings, hereinafterdescribed and particularly set forth in the appended claims, together with such variations-and modifications thereof as=will-be apparent to one-skilled in the art-to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had'to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front-elevation-showing the lower portion of a tire building drum and the carcass compacting mechanism mounted below the drum;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line ind cated at 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the compacting rollers;

Fig. 4 is 'a rear elevation of the compacting rollers;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the control switches operate'd by the movable roller'supports;

:Fig 6 isa fragmentary plan viewof-the swi-tch .2 operated 'by an axially movable roller viewed as indicated at ii-Bin Fig-5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the air pressure-lines and the automatic control switches, and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

In the accompanyingdrawings the "device of the present invention is showninconnection with a collapsible tire buildingdrum -l of: conventional construction which is mounted in the usual way upon a tubular shaft 2 :and an inner shaft 3 mounted within the tubular shaft 2, the drum being expanded and contracted "by relative turning'movementsof theshafts 2 and '3 as is oommon practice in the art.

The tire building machine, which may be "of the typedisclosedinthe patenttoBreth 2,313,035, March 9, 1943, is provided with a base -4 upon which is'mounted a standard 5 beneath the drum l. The standard? is mounted for adjustment longitudinally 'of the base 4 and axially of the drum having a base portion 5 slidably connected toithe base l-by means of a suitablelongitudinal -key' l and secured adjusted position on the base 4 by suitablemeans suchas bolts-8. The-bolts B engage in longitudinalslots 9 in the base portion 6 'of-theetandard 5 so that when the bolts are loosened'the standardmay be adjusted-longitudinally of "thebase. The adjustment of the standard$ron the base i isfor the purpose of properly-positioningthe mechanism of the present invention with respect to tire building drums" otvarioussizesand, for quickly and easily shifting the-standard, -a-screw10 -is providedwhichis carried by =a bracket I lmounted on the based and which-*is provided with a'hand wheel 92. -By-loosening the bolts 8 and turning the hand' wheel 1 2 "thestandard'fi can be "quickly adjusted -to the desired position with respect ;to the drum I.

At the front-"thereofthe standard-5 is provided with spaced inclined-guide'- bars 13in which .a carriage I 4 is-slidably mounted, the carriage being retained -'on the-guide-bars 1-3 "by suitable detachable retaining-plates T5. 'Attthe upper: end thereof the' carriage M is providedwithilaterally spaced upwardly-proj'ecting-arms lii'which provide *bearings for a horizontal "shaft I! that is disposed parallel to the axis of-the drum. The shaft l l carries a roller I8 'which is mounted on ball bearings t9 =and'whlch-"hasa convex-grooved periphery 2i) forengagement with'the central porend by a pivot 22 to a cross bar 23 attached to the lower end of the standard 5. The cylinder 2! has a piston 24 which is connected at its upper end by a pivot 25 to the carriage 4. The cylinder 2| serves to raise and lower the roller l8 and to press the roller I 8 against the drum, fluid under pressure being delivered to the lower end of the cylinder 2| through a pipe 26 and an exhaust pipe 21 being connected to the upper end of the cylinder.

The carriage [4 has a bracket 28 attached thereto which extends upwardly in front of the roller I8 and which carries a vertical pin 29 at its upper end which is adapted to position the delivery end of the tread stock conveyor (not shown) that may be supported on the bracket 28 so that tread stock can be fed from the conveyor between the roller l8 and the drum l.

A laterally projecting pin is attached to the carriage M for engagement with a trip arm 31 of a control switch S40. The switch S is a normally open switch which is held in closed position by the carriage i4 when the roller I8 is in its lowermost position, the switch S40 being in a circuit controlling portions of the machine not herein shown which are operated while the compacting rollers are in retracted position.

On the rear side thereof the standard 5 is provided with spaced vertical guide channels 32 in which a carriage 33 is slidably mounted. The carriage 33 has an elongated horizontal top portion 34 which extends past the ends of the drum l, and which is provided with a central bearing post 35 and bearing posts 3'5 at the ends thereof, the posts 35 and 36 providing supports for two shafts 3'? which are disposed end to end and which are positioned at slight angles of inclination to the axis of the drum, the shafts 31 being oppositely inclined with respect to the drum axis. The center post 35 is provided with a rearwardly opening slot 38 to receive the inner ends of the shafts 3'! which are secured in place by means of a bolt 39. A roller 40 is slidably mounted upon each of the shafts 31 and each of these rollers comprises a hub sleeve 4! having a flange 42 at its inner end and carrying a star-shaped rubber body 43 which is clamped against an inner disc 44 that engages the flange 42 by means of an outer disc 45 that is screwed on the sleeve 4!. The periphery of each roller 43 is formed by a series of independently movable annular discs 48 that are yieldingly supported upon the points of the star-shaped rubber body 43 and which are held in place by the discs 44 and 45. The discs 48 provide a yielding periphery for the rollers 40 so that these rollers can accommodate themselves to the contour of the material on the drum with which they engage, and, in order to provide a softer cushion for the discs 48 the star-shaped body 44 is preferably provided with a series of apertures 49 that extend axially through the body 44 at the base of each projection.

The rear carriage 33 is operated by means of a vertically disposed fluid pressure cylinder 50 that is connected at its lower end by a pivot 5| to a member 52 that is detachably secured to the base 6 of the standard 5. The cylinder 50 has a piston 53 which is connected at its upper end by a pivot 54 to the carriage 33, the cylinder 50 being provided with pipes 55 and 56 connected to its lower and upper ends through which the flow of fluid under pressure is so controlled that the rollers 40 may be raised and lowered and pressed against the material on the drum I by means of the cylinders 5!].

The carriage 33 has an inclined shoulder 51 that engages with a trip arm 58 connected to a normally open switch S38 when the rollers 40 are elevated to drum engaging position. The switch S38 controls the operation of the drum i and also the application of pressure to the rollers i8 and 45 as will be hereinafter explained and is mounted on an attaching bracket 59 that is mounted for vertical adjustment on the standard 5, being secured to the standard by bolts 63 which pass through vertically disposed slots 5| in the bracket. For additional adjustment of the bracket 59 the standard 5 may be provided with vertically spaced holes 62 to receive the bolts 50. The adjustment of the bracket 59 and switch S38 is for the purpose of accommodating tire building drums of difierent diameters.

The carriage 33 has a projectin pin 83 that engages when the carriage is in its lowered position with a trip arm 64 of a normally closed switch S39 which provides a safety. interlock with portions of the machine not herein shown.

One of the rollers 43 engages with a trip arm 65 of a control switch S38 that is mounted upon the top portion 34 of the carriage 33. The switch S36 is adjustably mounted on the portion 34 of the roller supporting carriage so that it can be positioned to be engaged by the roller 45 when the roller 40 reaches an end of the drum, the adjustment of the switch S36 enabling the trip arm 65 to be properly positioned with respect to drums of different lengths. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the under side of the carriage 33 is provided with an undercut supporting rib 56 upon which the switch S36 is slidably mounted and to which the switch may be secured in adjusted position by means of bolts 51. The trip arm 65 extends through the laterally extending portion 34 of the carriage which is provided with a longitudinal slot 68 to receive the arm 65. The switch S36 is preferably a micro-switch which is operated by a very slight movement of the arm 65, the arm 65 being backed by a spring 69 which holds the arm against an adjustable stop screw 10 and the arm 65 being provided with a contact engaging screw Tl. By adjusting the screws 10 and H, the necessary movement of the arm 65 may be provided for.

The rollers 40 are initially positioned at the inner ends of the shafts 31 and are elevated into engagement with the tire carcass on the drum I while in this position. After the rollers 40 are engaged with the drum I, the drum is rotated and because of the inclination of the shafts 3'! with respect to the drum axis, the rollers 40 will slide outwardly on the shafts 31 while they travel in a helical path on the rotating drum periphery.

The drum I is started into operation by the operation of the switch S33 upon engagement of the rollers 40 with the drum, and the drum is stopped by engagement of a roller 40 with the trip arm 65 of the switch S36. The switch S36 also controls the fluid pressure mechanism to lower the rolls andvmeans is provided for automatically returning the rolls 4?! to their central position after they are lowered out of drum engaging position.

On the rear portion of the base 6 of the standard, a pair of bearing brackets '12 are mounted and these brackets provide a support for an elongated shaft 13 which has a pulley 74 attached thereto midway between its ends and which is driven by an electric motor 75 through a belt 16 engaging the pulley 14. On opposite sides of the central pulley 14 the shaft 13 has soft rubber sleeves =11 "attached theretowhich :pr'ovide yieldaible surf aces :for en'gagem'ent with the peripheries of the rollers 4'0. Rotationof theshaft '13 causes the rollers-4c toslide f-rom the outer ends of the shafts 31 "to the rnnerends thereof and, in order to reduce friction at the inner-ends of the sleeves H, these sl'eves are provided at their inner ends with circumferential g rooves 1-8 which provide 'a soft treali forengagementwiththe rollers 50 when at the ihner ends of the siren 3-1-s'o that the rollers "may slip on the sleeves 1"! without excessive friction.

As*s'h'own in Fig. -7 of the drawings, fluid under pressure, preferably air, for operating "the cylindersil and 50 is suppnestrirougha pipe line 19 which is connected to branches 8!) and al provided with pressure control valves 82 and =83, the line 8'0 having air at -a higher 5 pressure than the line 8'1. The pipe lines a t-an s! are jconnected to "a control valve V which controls how of air from the lines -80 and ti to a valve V2 that delivers to 'th e' pipe "lines 26 and '55 which lead to the lower endso'f the "cylinders A! mate. The valve V2 in "one position connects the cylinders to 'a 'pressurelih'e and in the other 'positionconnects the cylinders to atmosphere topermitlowering'of the pistons. Thelihe Silhas a valve V3 therein which opens and'closes the line'55 so that pressure'may be deliveredto theflcylinder? l independeritly of "the cylinder '50. The valve V4 in one "positiondelivers air under high pressure from the 'linett tothe valve VZyand in another position deliversair underalo'wer pressure from the line "81 to the lines "55 and26, A timer 8 operated by an electric motor 85 directly "operates val'v'e's V3 and 'v ranzretntron the operation of the ve ve-v2 and otneriportions oftli'e' machine as will be hereinafter "explained. v

The exhaustpipes "21 "andfifi 'aifepr'ovided with exhaustr'etarding valves'flfi and?! which may be adjusted to'r'egulatethe speed of movement of the carriages l4"ahd'33. v

'The drum i is driven bymearis of "a suitable electric motor'as that is adaptedf'to be controlled by suitable forward and reverse foot switches 89 and Fig. 8 or the'drawings illustrates the mechanism which "automatically controls certain of the operations performeld'by the mechanism herein diseases, The operation of the compression rollers is initiated by means of a suitable starting switch 9! of the-push button type which controlsoperation of the timer 84 which determines the sequence of operations. p

Certain of the operations performed by the machine are controlled manually, others by movements of certain ofthemachine parts, and others by the timer-84 which is-intermittently operated in such manner that it is-always stopped during portions of the cycle in which the manual and automatic controls are operated. ,The'drum motor 88, the roller return motor 15, the timer 84 and the fluidpressure mechanism are electrically controlled through a circuit which, as shown in Fig.8, is energized through a suitable transformer 92 which supplies current'to the'timer operating motor 85. The'motor 851s continuously driven and drives a series of cams which are connected to the-motor through a suitable clutch 83. The clutch 93'is normally disengaged and a suitable brake 94 is provided'for stopping rotation of the cams when the clutch 93 disengaged. The c1utch93-and brake94 areoperated by solenoids 95 and -96 which receivecurrent through a rec tlfier 97.

Re1ay R1, n: and R1 contrdl the operation of the ti-mer 8'4. 'Thesrelay R l ihas two normallr open switches rl '-'(:h are closed when the i elay is energized, one in series With the relay RI and a timer operated switch S l an'd the second in -series"-withthe relay The relay R2 includes three switches r2, "onenormally-openand in series with the solenoid 95, one normally closed and in series with the "solenoid and the third normaHyop'en-and iHSrisWi-th the fe'IaY RZ and a timer controlled "switch 98. The relay R1 includes two switches M, one nfirmary open and in series with the second switch rl and the relay R2, and the other normally closed and in series with the relay R-l.

fEa'ch time during the tire building "operation that the c'a'rcas's "compacting mechanism or the present "invention s to beoperated, the timer is so "Positioned that v relay -B l is energized so that energization-of relay R1 by closing the push button switch 9| will also energize the "relay R? which will be "held through "the ftimer operated switch '98. Energ'iz'ation of therel'ay R2 applies the clutch 93 and rele'ase'sthe' brakefi' l, actuating the switches T2 'to energize 'the's'oleno'id 95 and deenergize the solenoid .36.

The drum"ii1'otor 88 is controlled by the foot switches s9 and en tnroiighreiaysior"anu DR which include forwardand reverse switches (if and (17" m' the motor circuit.

The first o eration or the compacting "rollers occurs after the nner fabric plies "or the tire carcass have beenappliedfto'thedrumfat which stage of the operation the timer 84 will "be stoppedwith the cam" C I in positiohft'o Hold the switch S1 bpenand the switch B8"close"d. "The relay'R'l will be energized through the normal- I'y"c1osed'switoh"r'1'so that closing tlie ush button 9| will energizerelaysRland R2. Energize;- tion of R2 establishes "a holding circuit through the switch 98 so that'the timer'will continue "to operate until'the'rela'y R2isagain deenergized.

fUpon rotation of-the timer cams, a timer cam C22 closesa normally open sWitchfS'Z'Z to energize asolenoid "'99 "to shift the'valvev2 to a position to admit pressure "tobothcy-linders 2l and 5% to simultaneously raise the "roller's' lii and it, the valve V2 being 'connec't'e'clto the low pressure line at and the valve V3 being open. The timer'cam C H then closes the normally-open switch S H 'to condition 'the circuit oi swam S38, and the cam CI "opens the switch98 "to"deener'gize'the relay Ftl and stop the-timer. The cam CPcloses the switch S1 simultaneously with the "opening 'of r. the switch 98 to condition' the starting circuit 'f or operation upon subsequent re'enrgization 'of the relay R1.

When the rear rollers in *are *brought into proximityto the fabric plies previously applied to the drum, the' should'e'r filengages the trip arm '58 and closes -th'e switch #838, "which is in series with the previously closed switch'SI! and with "the relay Rl, so that the relay Rl is energized to again energize the relay R 2 and again start the timers into operation.

The timer cam C26 then operates the valve V4 to connect the high pressurelinetl to the valve V2 which is being-held open :by the solenoid 89. This applies high pressure tobo'th the "center roller l8 and :the laterally movable rollers ii). The cam CI'Q closes'the switch slt substa'ntially simultaneously 'with the opening of the valve :V -i to energize "the relay DF' -an'd 1 start the drumr-driving'motor 88 ina forward' direbtion, the

switchwSl-Q being in series with the relay HUF- and a switch lilll that is normally closed and that is movable with the normally open switch S36.

Immediately after the drum is started into rotation the timer cam C I 1 opens the switch S, the timer cam C2 I closes the normally open switch S2! to start the roller return motor 15, and the timer cam Cl opens the switch 98 to stop the timer.

The rotation of the drum causes the rollers 48' to travel toward the ends of the drum and when the rollers reach the ends of the drum the trip arm 65 is actuated to close the switch S36 and open the switch I to stop the drum. Upon operation of the switch S36 the drum I is stopped and the relays R1 and R2 are energized to again start the timer, after which the switch S22 is opened to deenergize the solenoid 99 and permit the valve V2 to move to exhaust position, the cam ClS is operated to open the switch Sl9, and the cam CI operates to again stop the timer.

The return of the carriages l4 and 33 to lowermost position closes switches S39 and S40 which initiate operations of parts of the machine not shown which again start the timer which opens the switch S25 to stop the roller return motor 15 after the rollers ll! have been returned to the inner ends of the shafts 31.

After the beads have been applied by mechanism not herein shown, the tread stock is applied to the fabric on the drum. At this stage of the operation the timer cams C25 and C26 are positioned to connect the valve V4 to the low pressure line 80 and to hold the valve V3 closed so that upon actuation of the cam C22 low pressure is admitted to the cylinder 2| only to raise the center roll it to drum engaging position. The tread stock conveyor may be attached to the bracket 28 and tread stock inserted between the roller l8 and the drum I, after which the drum may be rotated by means of the foot switch 89 to roll the tread stock onto the carcass fabric previously applied to the drum. Ihe push button 9|v is then operated to start the timer and operate the cam 22 to apply low pressure to the roller l8, after which the timer cam Cl stops the timer. The rolling of the tread stock onto the drum is then accomplished by imparting rotation to the drum through the foot switch 89. After the tread stock is applied, the push button is again operated to initiate a cycle of operationsimilar to that previously described in comiection with the compacting of the inner plies of fabric, the rollers 0 being caused to travel in a helical path over the tread stock to the opposite ends of the drum, whereupon the rotation of the drum is stopped, the rollers retracted and the rollers 40 returned to their innermost positions by means of the return rollers 'I'I.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specific devices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising two supports mounted for movement toward and away from oircumferentially spaced portions of the exterior of the drum, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by one of said supports and centrally disposed with respect to the drum, a pair of narrower pressure applying rollers carried by the other support and movable thereon axially of the drum from positions in circumierential alinement with opposite side portions of said tread engaging roller to opposite ends of the tire building drum, means for driving the drum, and means for actuating said supports to simultaneously press said rollers against the tire casing stock on the drum.

2. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising two supports mounted for movement toward and away from circumferentially spaced portions of the exterior of the drum, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by one of said supports and centrally disposed with respect to the drum, a pair of narrower pressure applying rollers carried by the other support and movable thereon axially of the drum from positions in circumferential alinement with opposite side portions of said tread engaging roller to opposite ends of the tire building drum, each of said narrower rollers comprising an elastic yieldable body portion and a stock engaging peripheral portion comprising independently movable rings yieldingly supported on said body portion, means for driving the drum, and means for actuating said supports to simultaneously press said rollers against the tire casing stock on the drum.

3. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising two supports mounted for movement toward and away from oircumferentially spaced portions of the exterior of the drum, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by one of said supports and centrally disposed with respect to the drum, a pair of narrower pressure applying rollers carried by the other support and movable thereon axially of the drum from positions in circumferential alinement with opposite side portions of said tread engaging roller to opposite ends of the tire building drum, and a fluid pressure cylinder for shifting each of said supports to press said rollers against the stock on said drum.

4. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising two supports mounted for movement toward and away from circumferentially spaced portions of the exterior of the drum, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by one of said supports and centrally disposed with respect to the drum, 2. pair of narrower pressure applying rollers carried by the other support and movable thereon axially of the drum from positions in circum- Ierential alinement with opposite side portions of said tread engaging roller to opposite ends of the tire building drum, fluid pressure cylinders for shifting said supports to press said rollers against the stock on said drum, and means 'for supplying pressure to said cylinders including valves controlled by said axially movable rollers for retracting said supports when said rollers reach the ends of the drum.

5. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a support mounted for movement toward and away from the exterior of the drum, a roller mounted on said support for movement axially of the drum, a fluid pressure means for shifting said support and pressing said roller against material on the drum, mechanism for driving said drum, valve means for controlling said fluid pressure means to move the support toward or away from the drum, means including a trip member operated by said support during its movement to drum engaging position for starting said drum, and means including a second trip member operated upon a lateral movement of said roller for stopping said port, a motor for driving said drum, means including amanually operable switch for operating said valve mechanism to advance said support toward the drum, a switch operated by said-support for starting the drum motor and a switch operated by said roller upon a predetermined movement axially of the drum forstopping said motor and actuating said valve mechanism to retractsaid suppQrt.

7, Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a rotatable tire building drum comprising "a movable support, a roller mounted on said support for movement with the support into'stock engaging position and on the support in a direction axially of the drum, said roller being mounted on said support to rotate about an axis inclined with respectto the axis of the drum whereby said roller will follow a helical path on the tire casing stock upon rotation of the drum.

8, Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a rotatable tire building drum comprising a movable support, a roller mounted on said support for movement with the support into stock engaging position and on the support in a direction axially of the drum, said roller being'mounted on said support to rotate about an axis inclined with respect to the axis of the drum whereby said roller will follow a helical path on the tire'cas'in stock upon rotation of the drum, said roller having a yieldable periphery adapted to conform to the tire casing stock with which it engages.

9. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a rotatable tire building drum comprising'a movable support, a roller mounted on said sup port for movement with the support into stool; engaging position and on the support in a direction axially of the drum, said roller being mounted on said support to rotate about an axis inclined with respect to the axis of the drum whereby said roller will follow a helical path on the tire casing stock upon rotation of the drum, said roller comprising a hub portion, a periphery composed of a plurality of independently movable rings, and an elastic body interposed between said rings and said hub.

10. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a rotatable tire building drum comprising a support mounted for movement toward or away from the drum periphery, a shaft on said support disposed at a small angle to the axis of the drum, a stock compacting roller slidably mounted on said shaft, said roller having a yieldable periphery adapted to conform to the stock on the drum.

11. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a support movable toward and away from the drum periphery, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by said support and centrally disposed with respect to said drum, a second support movable toward and away from the drum periphery, two shafts on said second support having their inner ends substantially midway between the ends of the drum and inclined oppositely with respect to thedrum axis, and axially movable pressure applyingrollers slidably mounted on said oppositely inclined shafts.

1:2; Mechanism for compactingtire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a sup-- port movable toward and away from the drum periphery, a rigid tread engaging pressure applyr ing roller carried by said support and centrally disposed with respect to said drum, a second sup,- port movable toward and away from the drum periphery, two shafts on said second support having their inner ends substantially midway between the ends of the drum and inclined op-, positely with respect to the drum axis, and axially movable pressure applying rollers slidably mounted on said oppositely inclined shafts, said pressure applying rollers having peripheral por-j tions, yieldable to conform to the stock on the drum.

13. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a sup: port movable toward and away from the. drum periphery, a rigid tread engaging pressure apply; ing roller carried by said support and centrally disposed with respect to said drum, a second sup: port movable toward and away'from' the drum periphery, two. shafts on said second support haV-, ing'their inner ends substantially midway between the ends of the drum and inclined oppositely with respect to the drum axis, and axially movable pressure applying rollers slidably mounted on said oppositely inclined shafts, each of said axially movablerollers comprising a hub. portion, a peripheral portion com'posed'of inde-- pendently movable rings and an elastic body, portion interposed between said hub and rings.

'14. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a sup port movable toward and away from the drum periphery, a rigid tread engaging pressure apply ing roller carried by said support and centrally disposed with respect to said'dr-um, a 'secondslip' port movable toward and away from the drum periphery, two shafts on said' second support having their inner ends substantially midway between the ends of the drum and inclined oppositely with respect to the "drum axis, 'ax-ially movable pressure applying rollers slidably mounted on said oppositely inclined shafts, a roller rotatable about an axis parallel with the drum axis and positioned to engage with said axially movable rollers when said rollers are in retracted position, and means for driving said rotatable roller to return said rollers to their innermost positions.

15. Mechanism for compacting tire casing stock on a tire building drum comprising a support movable toward and away from the drum periphery, a rigid tread engaging pressure applying roller carried by said support and centrally disposed with respect to said drum, a second support movable toward and away from the drum periphery, two shafts on said second support having their inner ends substantially midway between the ends of the drum and inclined oppositely with respect to the drum axis, axially movable pressure applying rollers slidably mounted on said oppositely inclined shafts, a roller rotatable about an axis parallel with the drum axis and positioned to engage with said axially movable rollers when said rollers are in retracted position, means for driving said rotatable roller to return said rollers to their innermost positions, a timer controlled by axial movements of said axially movable rollers, and means operated by the timer for starting and stopping said driving means.

16. In a tire building machine, a drum, means for driving the drum, a tread engaging roller positioned midway between the ends of the drum and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the drum, means for shifting said roller, manually operable means for controlling said roller shifting and drum driving means to apply tread stock to carcass fabric on the drum, a second support movable toward and away from the drum, compacting rollers mounted on said second support for movement axially of the drum, means for moving said second support, a control member operated by said second support and operably connected to the drum driving means to cause the drum to be rotated upon movement of said support toward the drum, and a control member operated by one of said rollers during its axial movement for stopping said drum and retracting said supports.

17. In a tire bulding machine, a drum, drum driving means, a support mounted for movement toward and away from the drum, axially movable rollers carried by said support and rotating about axes oppositely inclined with respect to the drum axis, whereby said rollers travel in oppositely inclined helical paths around said drum from adjacent the center to the ends thereof, a fluid pressure cylinder for operating said support, a timer, a manually operable control member for starting said timer, means controlled by the timer for admitting fluid to said cylinder to shift said support toward the drum and move said rollers to engaging position and to stop the timer, means controlled by the movement of said support for restarting the timer, means controlled by the timer for rotating said drum and applying high pressure to said cylinder and again stopping the timer, and means controlled by axial movements of said rollers for stopping the drum and exhausting pressure from said cylinders to retract said rollers.

18. In a tire building (machine, a drum, drum driving means, a support mounted for movement toward and away from the drum, axially movable rollers carried by said support and rotating about axes oppositely inclined with respect to the drum axis, whereby said rollers travel in oppositely inclined helical paths around said drum from adjacent the center to the ends thereof, a fluid pressure cylinder for operating said support, a timer, a manually operable control member for starting said timer, means controlled by the timer for admitting fluid to said cylinder to shift said support toward the drum and move said rollers to engaging position and to stop the timer, means controlled by the movement of said support for restarting the timer, means controlled b the timer for rotating said drum and applying high pressure to said cylinder and again stopping the timer, means controlled by axial movements 01' said rollers for stopping the drum and exhausting pressure from said cylinders to retract said rollers, and means for automatically returning said rollers to their central position.

19. In a tire building machine, a drum, an elongated roller of substantially the same length as the drum and rotatable about a fixed axis parallel to the drum axis, a support having two shafts disposed end to end and inclined at opposite inclinations to the drum axis, a roller axially slidable on each of said shafts, means for moving said support from a position in which said rollers engage said elongated roller to a position in which said rollers engage said drum, means for driving said drum, and means for driving said roller.

ROLAND I. KUFFLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,834,559 Waner Dec. 1, 1931 2,295,541 Breth Sept. 15, 1942 2,313,035 Breth Mar. 9, 1943 2,342,951 Lyle Feb. 29, 1944 2,358,935 Leguillon Sept. 26, 1944 2,394,464 McChesney Feb. 5, 1946 2,455,038 Breth Nov. 30, 1948 2,464,020 Breth Mar. 8, 1949 

